FWSP Student Technical - Melton Gallery Assistant

Position Overview

This is a Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) student technical position serving as the Melton Gallery Assistant for the College of Fine Arts and Design. This position is ideal for students with an interest in the arts, design, and museum/gallery exhibitions. Gallery Assistants are responsible for operating the front desk during regular business hours, welcoming visitors, assisting with events including set up and take down of chairs, tables, and other equipment, and assisting with the Melton Gallery email, phone, and social media pages.

Occasional tasks include lifting and moving objects, installing and hanging material, moving pedestals, patching and painting, printing and hanging wall text and labels. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be available.

Hours per Week

• 10-15 hours per week.
• Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday, 12pm-5pm; Fridays, 12pm-3pm.
• Special Event Hours: Thursdays, 4pm-8pm.
• This position may require evening and weekend hours.
• Anticipated Start Date: August 17, 2026

College/Department Overview

The mission of the Melton Gallery is to serve as a forum to support the visual arts through diverse exhibitions and programming, creating dialogs between the university and the broader community.

The Melton Gallery strives for the following goals:

• Extend the knowledge of fine art, design practices, and critical theory.
• Pursue exhibitions and programming that are issue-charged in nature.
• Cultivate diverse audiences to create an atmosphere of inclusion.
• Develop community partnerships through collaborative projects.
• Provide deliberate support of the art and design departments' missions to prepare students to enter professional careers.

Department Specific Job Functions

Melton Gallery Attendant:

• Greet all visitors, answer any questions, and track daily attendance.
• Answer gallery phone calls and emails during opening hours.
• Maintain cleanliness of gallery space (sweeping, cleaning windows, general tidying).
• Make sure that the artwork is secure, and that visitors follow gallery etiquette.

Research:

• Research information on upcoming Melton Gallery programs and exhibitions, UCO student organizations, and OKC Metro art organizations as assigned by Curator.

Audience Engagement:

• Manage Melton social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
• Post fliers of events and programming around campus bulletin boards.

Events:

• Help set up and tear down gallery events and occasional evening programs.
• Help with installations and de-installations between exhibitions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Enrollment Requirements

Fall/Spring Semesters: All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible to work any UCO student position. Half-time enrollment for fall/spring semesters is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. F1/J1 Visa students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible to work as a student employee. Full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.

Summer Semester: To work in a regular student position during the summer semester, students must be enrolled in at least 3 summer credit hours or be enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in the minimum credit hours required for their classification and employment type. Students enrolled in fewer than 3 summer credit hours will be subject to FICA taxes during the summer term, which apply to both the student and the department. For Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) positions, students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours (undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (graduate).

Note: New incoming students are not eligible for student employment until the semester in which they begin classes.

Enrollment Exception: If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources. This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.

FWSP Requirements

To be considered for Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) employment, you must be awarded work study through the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Please be aware, the summer FWSP award is a separate application process, and is not included with the fall/spring FWSP award. Contact Financial Aid for more information.

Enrollment requirements for FWSP employment are the same each semester. Undergraduates must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours, and Graduates must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credit hours. If a student is enrolled in their final semester and the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of remaining credit hours needed to graduate and the anticipated graduation date) and provide the letter to the hiring department for submission to Human Resources. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.

Qualifications/Experience Preferred

• Majoring in Art, Design, Museum Studies, or other relevant areas.
• Familiarity with Mac products.
• Microsoft Word and Excel are a plus.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

The ideal candidate will be able to:

• Easily communicate with visitors, be attentive, and provide a warm and welcoming space for all gallery attendees.
• Learn about each exhibition, ask questions, and seek continued understanding of the mission and purpose of the gallery and its exhibitions so that they can assist/educate visitors better.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, and basic interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to visitors.
• Ability to carry out written or oral instructions.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Attention Applicants

Please be prepared to provide a cover letter and your resume upon applying.